Libya: African Union Lays Out Roadmap for Mediation

BuaNews (Tshwane)

27 March 2011

Beijing — The African Union (AU) has called for dialogue between parties in Libya on reforms to eliminate the root causes of the conflict.

The AU expressed concern that the conflict could affect neighbouring countries.

AU Commission Chairperson, Jean Ping, met with a delegation from Libya, which he said has verbally agreed with an AU roadmap to ease the crisis. Ping said the AU would follow the implementation of the cease fire. He stressed that the AU was committed to the protection of the people.

The roadmap consists of five elements: the protection of civilians and the cessation of hostilities; humanitarian assistance to affected populations, including both Libyans and foreign migrant workers, particularly those from Africa and the initiation of political dialogue between the Libyan parties in order to reach an agreement on the practicalities of ending the crisis; the establishment and management of an inclusive transitional period and the adoption and implementation of political reforms necessary to meet the aspirations of the Libyan people.

Meanwhile, French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, said the solution to the fighting in Libya should include political and diplomatic measures.

“It is clearly that the solution cannot simply be a military one, it is necessarily political and diplomatic,” said Sarkozy.-BuaNews-Xinhua

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